Starting device.



C. G. TATE. STARTING DEVICE.

' APPLICATION FILED JAN. 27 191s.

Patented Mar. 24, 1914 3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

YVENTOR ATTORNEY COLUMBIA PLANOGRPH 60..,v'vASHINaTON. D. C.

o. G. TATS. STARTING DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 27.1913.

Patented Mar. 24, 1914.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

wlTNEssEs 71]* INVENTOR ATTORNEY I G. G. `TATE. STARTING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.2' 7, 1913. 1,091,092. Patented Mar.24,1914

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

WITNESSES fr www. A @gm UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEioE. f

CHARLES G. TATE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO UNITED MOTOREQUIPMENT CO., 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

STARTING DEVICE.

To all whom 'it may conc-cra.'

Be it known that I, CHARLES Gr. TATE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Iilinois, haveinvented a certain new and useful Improvement in Starting Devices forExplosive-Engines, of which the following is a specification. i

My invention relates to that class of defvices which are designed tointroduce a gaseous Huid into the explosion chamber of the engineprevious to the ignition being caused through the medium of an electricspark. Devices of this character with which I am familiar are subject tothe following objection that it is nearly, if not quite impossible tointroduce a uniform volume of gas at a constant pressure into each andevery cylinder, this being due to two factors, one the difficulty ofsecuring a uniform opening and closing of the valves, admitting thegaseous fluid to the explosion chamber of the engine, and the otherbeing that devices of this character are usually connected to thePrestolite tank, the pressure of which constantly varies from the timethat it is first used until it is exhausted. There is anotherobjectionable feature to devices of this character which is due to thetendency of the gas to pocket itself in the explosion chamber and notsuiciently mix with the air to produce an explosive mixture. Then alsothere is present the diiiculty of attempting to introduce the gas at apressure of 5 or 10 pounds when the compression in the cylinder is manytimes that. Devices have been made to overcome these defects byarranging means to release the compression in the cylinder and cause acirculation therethrough, this insuring the mixture of the explosivegaseous fluid with the air in the explosion chamber.

My invention has for its object to provide means to secure a moreuniform opening and closing of the ports leading to the explosionchamber and to improve the means used for opening the valve whichreleases the compression in the explosion chamber.

In my application No. 731,928, I have described means for rendering moreuniform the movement of the valve which opens and closes the portsleading to the engine. This device, as described, is objectionable, dueto the fact that there is not sufficient difference between the tensionof the spring when the valve has been-rotated to the closed positionSpecification of Letters Patent. Patented Ian 24: 1914 Application iledJanuary 27, 1913.

Serial No. 744,307.

and when it is in its normal position. My present invention .is designedto overcome this by doing away with the balance wheel and substitutingin the place thereof a train of gears. This permits the use of a verymuch greater tension upon the main spring, due to the power required tooperate the gears with the result that a more uniform movement of thevalve is secured, due to the fact that there is a very much smallerdifference between the tension exerted by the spring in its normalposition and that in its fully contracted position. My means ofaccomplishing' the foregoing may be more readily understood by havingreference to the accompanying drawings, which are hereunto annexed andare a part of this specilication, in which- Figure 1 is a verticalsectional view of my starting device equipped with my improve'- inents.Fig. 2 is a cross section taken on the line g-g 1n Fig. .1 in thedirection indicated by the arrows. Fig. 3 is a cross section taken online T in the direction indicated by the arrows a-a, Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is across section taken on the same line in the direction indicated by thearrows b-, Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is an isometric view of the spring hub andstop arm shown in position with bearing plate and casing, gears omitted.Fig. 6 is. a detail view of the intermediate gear and pinion, showingmethod of keying. Fig. 7 is an isometric detail view of the release camwith pins. Fig. 8 is a detail view of the cone thrust spring and pivot.

Similar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the entiredescription.

As shown in the drawings, 1 is a cylindrical shell in which is mounted aco-nevalve 2, which is flexibly secured to one end of a shaft 3, theother end of the shaft 3 being provided with a handle 4. The cone valveis held to its seat through the medium of a thrust spring 7 .which isprovided with a pin 8, which engages a tapered recess formed in the endof a cap screw 5. This cap screw also serves to hold in position a cam29, which opensl the valve 58 by contacting with its valve stem 59,which admits the explosive gaseous iiuid into a chamber 30, from whichit flows into the horizontal ports or passages 12 into the cone valve 2.

The end of the cylindrical shell 1 is closed by a cap 9, a gasket 10being provided to ,render the joint between the two tight, the

cap being held tightly down upon the gasket by means of screws 11. Ashas been stated, the cone valve 2 is provided with a horizontal port orpassage 12, which registers with radial po-rts or passages 13. Thelatter extend to the periphery of the cone valve. These radial ports areadapted to register with ports 14, which lead to pipes 15 and thus tothe explosion chambers of the va rious cylinders of the engine.

A cam 6, which is better seen in Fig. 2, is mounted upon a squared endof the shaft 8, and is provided with two holes 35 and 36, which areadapted to engage pi-ns 37, which extend outwardly from the forward endof the cone valve 2. The cam is further provided with two outwardlyextending pins or lugs 38 and 39, which extend into a slot 40, formed inthe spring hub 41. This arrangement provides for a liexible connectionof the shaft. The cam 6 is mounted so that its edge will contact withone end of a bell crank lever 16, which is mounted upon a pin 17,secured in the wall of the cylindrical shell 1.l The opposite end of thelever is adapted to engage a valve stem 18 which carries a valve 19,which is connected to a pipe 20, which leads to the explosion chambersof the engine. Ports 2l lead from the interior of the valve casing 22 tothe atmosphere.

23 is a spring which is secured by means of screws 24 to the wall of thecylindrical shell 1. This spring serves to hold the bell crank levernormally out of engagement with the valve stem 18, a coil spring 25operating to keep the said valve closed when the valve stem is not incontact with the arm of the bell crank lever.

The main spring 26 is mounted in a chamber 27 and has its inner endattached to the spring hub and stop arm 41. Its outer end is secured toan annular member 31 which is provided with a threaded groove 32, towhich is fitted a tension adjusting screw 33 so that the rotation of thescrew 33 serves to rotate the member 31, and this in turn operates totighten the tension of the spring 26.

A ratchet wheel 42 is rotatably mounted upon the shaft 3 and is engagedby a pawl 43, which is mounted upon a pin 44 mounted in the stop arm41.` A spring 45, which is also secured to the stop arm, serves to holdthe pawl normally in engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel. Theratchet wheel 42 is ixedly mounted upon the laterally extending hub 46of a gear 47, it being secured from rotation by means of a pin 48. Theteeth of the gear 47 are in mesh with the teeth of a pinion 49, thepinion 49 being provided with a laterally extending hub 51. Upon thishub51 is fixedly mounted a gear 52, which in turn meshes with a pinion53, which is rotatably mounted on the 35 and is provided with alaterally @X- tending hub, upon which is mounted an escapement wheel 54,the teeth of which engage an escapement arm 55, which is mounted upon apin or pivot 56.

57 is the pendulum which is securely fastened by means of rivets 50 tothe escapeh ment arm 55.

60 is a pressure gage designed to be connected to the line by suitablepiping (not shown) to indicate the pressure in the tank containing thesource of iiuid supply.

The operation of the device is as follows: The operator grasps thehandle 4 and moves the same to the left. This movement is continueduntil the stop arm 41 is in the posi tion shown in F ig. 5, indicated bythc dotted lines. This has the effect of winding up the spring and alsomoves the cone valve 2, so that the radial ports 13 are moved out ofregister with the ports 14, while the cam 29 is brought into contactwith the stem of the valve 58. This admits the explosive gaseous fluidinto the chamber 30. The same movement brings the cam 6 in contact withthe bell crank lever 16 and causes its arm to engage the stem 18 of thevalve 19, moving the same away from its seat, permitting the compressedfluid in the cylinders of the engine to escape to the atmosphere throughthe ports 21, the device being so timed that this action takes placejust slightly in advance of the admission of the explosive gaseous fluidto the engine cyl` inders. rThe release of the handle by the operatorpermits the spring to act, through the gears and the ratchet 42 and pawl43, to move the cone valve so that the radial ports 18 will be broughtinto register with the ports 14, affording a clear and uninterruptedpassage through these ports from the cham- -ber 30, the too rapidmovement of the valve being prevented by the train of gears, while theescapement pendulum operates to provide a uniform time for the openingand closing of the ports in question.

Practice has shown that the variation in the charge delivery to thediliierent cylinders of the engine is so infinitesimal as not to bccapable of measurement by the ordinary means, with the result that themixture is always constant, while the release of the compression permitsthe explosive gas to iow through the cylinders of the engine so as toevenly distribute the same and avoid any possibility of its pocketingitself.

Having described my invention, what I regard as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent is:

1. A starter for gas engines comprising the combination of a cone valve,a cylindrical sleeve in which said valve turns, there being a chamber insaid sleeve at the large end of the valve, said valve having ahorizontal port and a plurality of radial ports extending therefrom tothe periphery of the cone valve, the said ports being adapted toregister with a plurality of ports leading from the interior of saidsleeve, a source of gaseous Huid supply, a valve to shut oif said fluid,a cam secured to the large end of the cone adapted to open said valve ata predetermined time, a cam at the small end of said valve, a bell cranklever, one arm of which is engaged by said cam, the other arm of whichis adapted to engage a valve stem, a valve having a stem mounted in apassage which leads to the explosion chambers of an engine, ports orpassages leading from said valve to the atmosphere, means to hold saidbell crank lever normally out of engagement with said valve stem, meansto hold said cone valve to its seat, a shaft flexibly connected to saidcone valve, `a handle on said shaft, a spring hub and stop arm rotatablymounted on said shaft, a spring, the inner end of Which is secured tosaid spring hub, the outer end of Which is secured to an annular membermounted inside of the cylindrical shell, means to regulate the tensionof said spring, a spur gear having a laterally extending hub, a ratchetWheel fiXedly mounted upon said hub, said gear being rotatably mountedupon the said shaft, a paWl secured to the stop arm adapted to engagethe teeth of said ratchet Wheel, a pinion in mesh With the teeth of'cagear, said pinion having a laterally extending hub, a gear iXedlymounted upon said hub, the teeth of Which mesh with thepinion rotatablymounted upon the shaft, Which actuates the cone valve, an escapementvWheel and escapement arm, a pin or pivot upon which said escapement armis mounted and a pendulum rigidly secured to the escapement arm.

Q. A starter for gas engines comprising the combination of a cone valve,a cylindrical sleeve in Which` said valve turns, there being portsthrough said valve and sleeve leading to the cylinders of an engine, a

valve to relieve the compression in the en-V gine cylinders, and meansoperated by the rotation of the cone valve to open said valve just priorto the opening of the ports which lead to the engine. I

3. In a starter for gas engines the combination With a spring-actuatedcone valve, of means to cause the spring to act indirectly to rotate thevalve, and means to impart a uniform speed to said rotation.

4. A starter for gas engines comprising the combination of a cone valve,a cylindrical sleeve in Which said valve oscillates, a shaft flexiblyconnect-ed to said cone valve, a handle on said shaft, a spring hub andstop arm rotatably mounted on said shaft, a spring, the innerend ofwhich is secured to said spring hub, the outer end of which is securedto an annular member mounted inside of the cylindrical shell, means toregulate the tension of said spring, a spur gear having a laterallyextending hub, a ratchet Wheel lixedly mounted upon said hub, Vsaid gearbeing rotatably mounted upon the said shaft, a pavvl secured tothe stoparm adapted to engage the teeth of said ratchet Wheel, a pinion in meshWith the teeth of a gear, said pinion having a laterally extending hub,a gear iXedly mounted upon said hub, the teeth of which mesh With thepinion rotatably mounted upon vthe shaft, Which actuates the cone valve,an escapement Wheel and escapement arm, a pin or pivot upon Which saidescapement arm is mounted, and a pendulum rigidly secured to theescapement arm. Y

5. A starter for gas engines comprising the combination of a conevvalve, a cylindrical sleeve in which said valve turns, there being portsthrough said valve and sleeve leading to the cylinders of an engine, avalve torelieve the compression in the engine cylinders, means operatedby the rotation of the conevalve to open 'said'valve just prior to theVopening of the ports which lead to the engine, manually operated meansto rotate said cone valve in one direction and spring actuated means toreturn it to its normal position, and a stop to prevent its rotation ineither direction beyond a predetermined point.Y Y

6. A starter forgas engines comprising the combination of a cone valve,a cylindrical sleeve in Which said valve turns, there being portsthrough said valve and sleeve leading to the cylinders of an engine, avalve to relieve the compression in the engine cylinders, means operatedby the rotation of the cone valve to open said valve just prior to theopening of the ports Which lead to the engine, manually operated meansto rotate said cone valve in one direction, spring actuated means toreturn it to its normal position, a stop to prevent its rotation ineither direction beyond a predetermined point, said spring actuatedmeans acting through 'a train of gears, and an escapement'vvheel andVarm and pendulum for the purpose set forth,

substantially as described.

7. In a device of the class described, the combination of an enginecylinder, a source of gas supply, a conduit connecting said cylinder andgas supply, a controlling valve in said conduit, means for manuallymoving said valve into supply position, and a timed motor mechanism forreturning said valve to normal position during Which return movement ameasured quantity of gas is supplied to said cylinder, substantially asdescribed.

8. In a device of the class described, the combination of an enginecylinder, a source of gas supply, a conduit between said engine cylinderand said source of gas supply, a controlling valve located in saidconduit, means for delivering gas to said controlling valve at asubstantially uniform pressure, manually operable means for moving saidvalve in one direction against spring pressure, and a retardng deviceassociated with Y said valve adapted to control the movement of saidvalve in the opposite direction, whereby at each actuation of said valvea fixed quantity of gas is permitted to pass from said supply to saidcylinder, substantially as described. y

9. In a device of the class described, the combination of a plurality ofengine cylinders, a source of gas supply, a conduit between said enginecylinders and said source of gas supply, a distributing valve located insaid conduit, means for delivering gas to said distributing valve at asubstantially uniform pressure, manually operable means for moving saidvalve in one direction against spring pressure, and a speed controllingdevice associa-ted with said valve adapted to control the movement ofsaid valve in the opposite direction, whereby at each actuation of saidvalve a fixed quantity of gas is permitted to pass from said supply toeach of said cylinders, substantially as described.

l0. In a device of the class described, the combination of a. pluralityof engine cylinders, a source of gas supply, a conduitbetween saidengine cylinders and said source of gas supply, a distributing valvelocated in said conduit, means for delivering gas to said distributingvalve at a substantially uniform pressure, manually operable means formoving said valve in one direction against spring pressure, and a speedcontrolling device associated with said valve, said device beinginactive in the manual operation but adapted to control the movement ofsaid'valve in the opposite direction whereby at each actuation of saidvalve a fixed quantity of gas is permitted to pass from said supply toeach of said cylinders, subst-antially as described.

11. In a device of the class described, the combination of a pluralityof engine cylinders, a source of gas supply, a conduit bctween saidengine cylinders and said source of gas supply, a distributing valve.located in said conduit, means for delivering gas to said distributingvalve at a substantially uniform pressure, an admission valve associatedwith said distributing valve, manually operable means for moving saiddistributing valve into supply position, then opening said admissionvalve and maintaining said admission valve in open position during thereturn movement of said distributing valve, then closing said admissionvalve near the end of the return movement of said distributing valve,sul'istantially as described.

l2. In a device of the class described, the combination of a pluralityof engine cylinders, a source of gas supply, a conduit lietween saidengine cylinders and said source of gas supply, a distributing valvelocated in said conduit, means for delivering gas to said distributingvalve at a substantially uniform pressure, an admission valvecontrolling the entrance of gas to said distributing valve, manuallyoperable means for moving said distributing valve in one directionagainst resistance, said admission valve being opened just prior to thecompletion of the opening movement of said distributing valve, and atiming device associated with said distributing` valve adapted tocontrol the return movement thereof, said admission valve being adaptedto be closed b v said distributing valve at or near the return movementthereof, substantially as (lescribed.

In witness whereof I have signed the forcgoing specification.

CHARLES G. TATP).

Witnesses:

C. M. BAUMEISTER, K. DoLBnY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. C.

